Automatic loader and unloader for conveyors



Jan. 17, 1961 VAN scH 2,968,384

AUTOMATIC LOADER AND UNLOADER FOR CONVEYORS Filed NOV. 20, 1958 8Sheets-Sheet 1 QINVENTOR. I fioer/l/ V0/75c/7/ Jan. 17, 1961 R. J. VANSCHIE AUTOMATIC LOADER AND UNLOADER FOR CONVEYORS Filed Nox l. 20, 19588 sheet-sheet 2 INVENTOR. 45 Rob 6/7 V00 56/7/8 ATTORNEY.

Jan. 17, 1961 R. J. VAN SCHIE 2,968,

AUTOMATIC LOADER AND UNLOADER FOR CONVEYORS' Filed Nov. 20, 1958 8Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR.

BYWd/IX A/fOR/VEX Jan. 17, 1961 R. J. VAN SCHIE 2,968,384

AUTOMATIC LOADER AND UNLOADER FOR CONVEYORS Filed Nov. 20, 1958 8Sheets-Sheet 5.

IN VENTOR.

Jan. 17, 1961 R. J. VAN SCHIE 5 AUTOMATIC LOADER AND UNLOADER FORCONVEYORS Filed Nov. 2.0, 1958 v 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTOR. b Koer/J.VanJcfi/e ,4 TTORNEY.

Jan. 17, 1961 R. J. VAN SCHIE 2,968,384

AUTOMATIC LOADER AND UNLOADER FOR CONVEYORS Filed Nov. 20, 1958 I jY J]INVENTOR.

BYQ

Af/O/P/VEY 8 Sheets-Sheet 7 Jan. 17, 1961 R. J. VAN SCHIE 2,968,384

AUTOMATIC LOADER ANDY UNLOADER FOR CONVEYORS Filed Nov. 20, 1958 8Sheets-Sheet 8 IN VENTOR.

WMM v nited States AUTOMATIC LOADER AND UNLOADER FOR CONVEYORS Thisinvention": relates to improvements in automatic loader and unloadr' forconveyors. The n'neipar objects ofthis invention are: 7

First, to provide a conveyor system Withplural c'onveyors havingautomatic devices' for transferring articles from one conveyor toanother;

Second, to provide mechanism advanced automatically alongsideofa'conveyo'r'and' having a loading element that moves transversely withrespect to the movement of a hook on the conveyor for loading articlesonto or off from the conveyor hook.

Third, to provide a-t-ransfer mechanism in combination with a pair ofspaced conveyors which will receive articles from one conveyor and swingthem into engagement with the second conveyor,

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from aconsideration of the following description and claims. The drawings, ofwhich there are eight sheets, illustrate a highly practical form of theconveyor system and the loading and unloading and transferringmechanisms thereof.

Fig. 1 is a fr'ag'rneritary plan view of a conveyor system generallyindicating the relationship between the several conveyors and theseveral transfer mechanisms thereof.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary cross sectional View taken along the plane ofthe line 22 in Fig. I and illustrating a first transfer mechanism fortransferring articles from a fiat bed conveyor to an overhead suspensionconveyor. Fig. 3 is a fragmentary front elevational view partially insection along the plane of the line 3 3 in Fig. 2' il lustrating themechanism for loading articles onto a suspension conveyor.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary transverse cross sectional view taken along theplane of the line 4-4 in Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary horizontal cross sectional view taken along theplane of the line 5-5 in Fig. 4 and illustrates the transfer mechanismadvancing latch.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary transverse cross sectional view taken along theplane of the line 6-6 in Fig; 1 and illustrating the second transfermechanism for unloading articles off of the suspension conveyor.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary front elevational view of the transfer mechanismin Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary elevational view of the transfer mechanism fortransferring articles between two separate conveyors.

Fig. 9. isa fragmentary cross sectional view taken along the plane ofthe line 9-9 in Fig. 8 and illustrating the unloading latch foractuating the transfer device.

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a third transfermechanism and" the driving connections therefor for lifting articles offof a suspensionconveyor.

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary transverse cross sectional view taken along theplane of theline 11-"11 in Fig. 102

Fig; 12 is a fragmentary end elevational view of the transfer or articlelifting structure of the mechanism shown in Figs; 10 and 11.

Patented Jan. 17,. 1961 Fig; 13 is a fragmentary top plan view of thedriving clutch for actuating the transfer mechanism of Figs. 10 to 12.

Fig. 14 is a fragmentary developed cross-sectional view taken along theplane of the arcuate line 14-14 in Fig. 13.

Fig. 15 is a fragmentary front side elevational view of amodified formof transfer or loading mechanism for directing articles to the hooks ofa constantly advancing conveyor.

Fig. 16 is a fragmentary transverse cross sectional view taken along theplane of the line 16-46 in-Fig. 15

Fig. 17 is a fragmentary elevational view from the rear side of theconveyor shown'in Fig; 15 illustrating the open end of thedelivery'chute' fromwhich articles are transferred to the conveyor.

Fig. 18 is a fragmentary front side elevational view of a modified formof off loading mechanism for removing articles from a continuouslyadvancing conveyor.

Fig. 19 is a fragmentary transverse cross sectional view taken along theplane of the line 19-19 in. Fig. 18.

The conveyor system of the present invention is designed toautomatically advance sheet metal stampings such as automobile fenders,door and refrigerator parts from one position to another and to transferthe parts between different conveyors as may be, necessary. Fig. 1generally indicates a system including delivery conveyor 1 which mayadvance the articles from a source such as a storage area or a series ofarticle forming presses. The delivery conveyor may consist of a flatbelt or a series of relatively flat plates or jigs 2 supported upon asuitable chain 3 and trained around a drive sprocket. 4. The articlesadvanced by the conveyor 1 are directed, to a tiltable transfer devicehaving a pan 5 for elevating the articles to upright position. A gate 6prevents delivery of articles from the conveyor 1' until the pan 5' isin a position to receive them. The transfer pan 5 and its sup portinglinkage is operated by an automatically operating one revolution clutchgenerally indicated at 7. The transfer pan 5 delivers articlessuccessively to the hook 8 of a second transfer device 9 adapted tofurther advance the articles and deposit them on the hooks 10 of asuspension conveyor 11-. The suspension conveyor 11 advances thearticles on its books to afurther transfer device indicated generally at12 which device lifts the articles off of the hooks 1-1 and depositsthem inthe carrier 13 of a swingable transfer device 14. The transferdevice 14 advances and deposits the articles on the hooks 15' of asecond suspension conveyor 16'. The conveyor 16 has a fourth transferdevice indicated generally at 17 for lifting articles off of theconveyor 16 and depositing them in a suitable position for furtherhandling.

The several conveyors and transfer devices are all operated in timedrelationship to effect automatic advance and transfer of the elementsbeing handled. To this end Fig. 1 illustrates conventionally drivingconnections starting from a motor 18 driving through a speed reductiongear box 19 to drive the sprocketwheel 21; of the suspension conveyor11. The shaft 21 of the sprocket 20 extends downwardly to bevel gears 22to drive the shaft 23 and bevel gears 24, one of which drives the shaft25 of the supply conveyor 1. The shaft 25 also operates through thechain 26 to drive the clutch 7 which is mounted on a shaft 27 to actuatethe tiltable transfer device 5. The suspension conveyor 11 is threadedaround a sprocket 28 and bevel gears 29 driven by the sprocket driveshaft 34 extending to the bevel gears 31 on the rotating transferconveyor.

The ofi feed or unloading transfer device 17 associated with thesuspension conveyor 16 is driven by a sprocket 32 meshed with the chainof the conveyor as is more particularly described in connection withFigs. 10 to 14.

A backing roll 33 holds the chain engaged with the sprocket. Thesuspension conveyor 16 may be driven by any suitable connecting shaft orgearing (not illustrated) from the first suspension conveyor 11, or itmay be operated by a separate drive means suitably synchronized with themotor 18. While the conveyors 11 and 16 are illustrated and referred toas suspension conveyors to distinguish them from the supply conveyor 1,it should be noted that the same transfer mechanism to be describedpresently can be adapted to function with low level conveyors supportedfrom below in the event that the articles being handled can standupright in suitable jigs or supports on the conveyors for engagementwith the several transfer devices.

Tilting transfer from supply to suspension conveyors With the foregoinggeneral arrangement of the conveyor system in mind attention is nowdirected to Figs. 2 to 5. The tiltable transfer pan is connected to asupporting arm 40. In the lowered, at rest position, the arm 40 and pan5 rest on a support or bed 41 immediately adjacent the end of the supplyconveyor 1 so that as the plates 2 of the supply conveyor advancearticles, the articles are tilted downwardly and directed onto the pan.Fig. 2 indicates partially processed automobile fenders shown in dottedlines at 42 as the articles being handled. The end of the arm 40 ispivotally connected at 43 to a crank 44 connected to the shaft 27. Aspring 45 biases the pivot 43 and the crank downwardly to the positionshown in Fig. 2.

The clutch 7 consists of a shaft disk 46 constantly driven by thepreviously described chain 26 and rotatable about the shaft 27. The disk46 carries a laterally projecting pin or roller 47 which projects towarda second or driven disk 48 fixedly connected to the shaft 27. The seconddisk 48 carries a drive pawl 49 mounted near its periphery on a pivot 50and having a laterally projecting lug 51 extending into the path of theroller 47. A spring 52 biases the lug inwardly into the path of theroller. As the first disk 46 and its roller 47 rotate in a clockwisedirection as viewed in Fig. 2, the roller 47 picks up the pawl 49 androtates the second disk 48 and with it the shaft 27. The pawl 49 has aradially projecting release cam 53 which rotates with the second diskuntil it engages the first release roller 54 to swing the pawl inwardlyof the disks and release the driving connection between the roller 47and the lug 51. At this time the spring 45 returns the disk 48 and thearm 40 to the horizontal releasing position shown in full lines in Fig.2. The arm 40 is guided in its swinging motion by the link 55 pivoted tothe arm at 56 and to a fixed pivot 57.

A hooked catch 58 pivoted on the arm 40 at 59 prevents the article fromsliding off of the pan 5 as the arm is elevated. The catch is retainedin place by engagement of the latch 60 with the pin 61 on the catch. Asthe pan reaches its uppermost position, the latch 60 is in the positionindicated by the dotted lines at 60B in Fig. 2 where a release pin 62strikes the fixed stop 63 to release the latch and let the catch fall bygravitation. The article 42 is then opposite and slightly above thehooked transfer element 8 and slides downwardly on the inclined pan intoengagement with the hook for further advance and transfer as will bedescribed presently.

In order to prevent accidental or premature delivery of articles fromthe feed conveyor 1 to the transfer pan 5 the gate 6 pivotally supportedon the lever 64 is urged upwardly by the spring 65 and remains in theraised blocking position until lowering of the pan 5 strikes the pin 66to depress the gate.

Transfer to suspended conveyor The second longitudinally movableconveyor which receives the articles from the supply conveyor 1 and thepan 5 is disclosed as a chain 70 having spaced links thereof connectedto hooks 71. The hooks. are mounted on rollers 72 supported and guidedin the channel shaped track 73. The track is in turn suspended as iscommon in industrial conveyors by hanger rods 74. At the first transferstation a pair of transverse cross bars 75 and 76 are supported acrossthe rail 73 at longitudinally spaced positions. At their rear ends thecross pieces are secured to depending hangers 77 which are secured toand support a rigid support bar 78 of generally rectangular crosssection. The hangers 77 also support a longitudinally extending sliderail 79 spaced rearwardly from the chain 70. A transfer carriage 80 ofhollow rectangular cross section is slidably supported and guided on theslide rail 79. As appears most clearly from Figs. 3 and 4 spacer blocks81 on the ends of the bottom of the carriage support a pull bar 82 alongthe bottom of the carriage. Secured to the bottom of the pull bar 82 isa depending hanger 83 that extends downwardly over the front face of thesupport bar 78 and then angles rearwardly and downwardly as at 84. Theangled portion 84 carries guide blocks 85 that slidably support a rackbar 86 in inclined position underneath the carriage 80. The article hook8 is secured to the upper forward end of the rack bar 86 and attentionis directed to the fact that the hook 8 is of upwardly opening U-shapedcross section.

The carriage 80 is reciprocated longitudinally along the slide rail 79by structure which includes a sprocket 87 rotatably mounted on the fixedaxle 88. The axle is carried by a bracket projecting from the hanger bar77' and a length of link chain 89 trained around the sprocket isconnected to the end of the pull bar 82. A spring 90 connected betweenthe other end of the chain and a bracket 91 carried by the left crossbar 76 constantly urges. the slide 80 to the right as shown in Fig. 3 orin a direction opposite to the advancing motion of the chain 70..

The pull bar 82 which is located in spaced relation be-- low thecarriage 80 supports a drive pawl 92 pivotally supported at 93. (SeeFigs. 4 and 5.) The pawl 92 has: a forwardly projecting lug 94 thatprojects into the path. of blocks 95 secured to the chain 70 between thechain. and the article hooks 10. Thus as the article hooks advance tothe carriage 80 they engage the lugs 94 and advance the slide. The pawls92 are held against pivot-- ing by engagement in the keeper notch 96 ina latch lever 97 also pivotally supported on the pull bar at 98. Aspring 99 urges the latch to pawl engaging position. As the carriageadvances to the left, as shown in Fig. 3 or' upwardly as shown in Fig.5, the swinging end 100 of the latch engages the fixed release pin 101to release the pawl 92 and let the block 95 slide past the carriage. Atthis time the spring 90 returns the transfer carriage to the right. Inorder to hold the carriage advance block 95 in engagement with the lug94, a front pressure plate 102 is supported by depending hangers 103along the front side of the transfer carriage.

Secured to the underside of the rectangular support bar 78 is a rack bar104 having rearwardly inclined teeth 105 that are drivingly engageablewith a pinion 106. The pinion 106 is keyed to a short shaft 107 so thatreciprocating motion of the carriage 80 oscillates the shaft 107. Thelower end of the shaft 107 is keyed to a second pinion 108 and thislatter pinion drivingly engages rack teeth 109 on the side edge of theinclined hook support bar 86. Oscillation of the carriage thus causesthe support bar 86 to reciprocate. It is pointed out that advancingmotion of the carriage to the left as shown in Fig. 3, rotates thepinions 106 and 108 in a direction to retract the hook bar 86 rearwardlyand downwardly. As the carriage retracts to the right the articlereceiving hook 8 will be advanced to raised position to receive thearticle from the tray 5 prior to arrival of the hook 10 at the transferstation. As the hook 10 advances with the chain 70 it comes intocrossing relation with the extended rack bar 86 as shown in Fig. 3 butthere is no interference or stopping of the advancing motion of thechain because the feed block 95 at that time engages the lug 92 toadvance the carriage 8Q with the chain. The transfer hook 8 thereforemoves longitudinally with the conveyor hook 10 at the same time retractsdownwardly and rearwardly with its channel section passing on oppnsitesides of the hook 10. The article formerly suspended on the transferhook Sis thus transferred is the conveyor hook 10. After the transfer iscompleted the latch 100 is tripped to disengage the carriage 80 fr'ornthe conveyor chain and the carriage retracts as previously described fora succeeding cycle. The article 42 is now suspended on the conveyor hook10 and advances as indicated to the off-feeding transfer mechanism 12.

Off-feeding transfer device Attention is n'owdirected to Figs. 6 and 7.The olffeeding transfer mechanism may, of course, be located at anydesired point along the conveyor-11 and includes a second support bar783 and a second carriage 80B supported upon a slide barbehind'a guardplate 102B. The support bar supports a rack 105B on its underside andthe same driving engagement between the carriage 80B and the chain 70 asis shown in Figs. 4 and is pro vided. Secured to the bottom of thecarriage 80B is a depending hanger 110 which extends below and inclinesrearwardly of the support bar 783 which is similar to the hanger bar 83.The rearwardly inclined portion 111 of the hanger bar has retainingplates 112' slidably support ing a rack bar 113 on the underside of thehanger. The

rack bar is reciprocated by a pinion 114 secured to a shaft 115 and theshaft 1'15 is in turn driven by an upper pinion 116 which engages therack 105. Thus reciprocation of the carriage 80B and the hanger 110 willoscillate the rack bar 113 but it should be noted that the pinions 114and 116 are on the ep'pnsite side of the rack bar 113 from the positionoccupied by the previous rack bar 86. Thus retracting motion of thecaffiage 80B to the right causes the rack bar 1 13' to be depressedrather than raised.-

It will be understood that the same or a similar type of spring returnas that shown in Fig. 3 is provided for r'e-' tracting the carriage 80B.As the carriage 80B is picked up and advanced to the left by engagementwith the drive block 95 the rack bar 113 will be advanced forwardly andupwardly. At its upper end the rack bar 113 carrie's an upwardly andforwardly opening U-shaped hook 117 that is advanced in registry withthe hook so that the sides of the hook 117 move along opposite sides ofthe hook 111. The article carried by the hook 10 is thus disengaged andlifted off by the hook 117.

In order to further disengage the article from the hook 117 the rack bar113 carries a rearwardly projecting sup port bar 118 which extendsdownwardly and rearwardly to below the lower end of the articlesuspended from the hook. A lever 119 pivotally connected to the supportat 120 has its lower end connected at 121 to a link 122. The other endof the link 122 is connected at 123 to a tie bar 124 extendingrearwardly to the fixed pivot 125. The

link 122 carries an angled push-oft plate 126 and when the rack barreaches the upper limit of its travel the upper end of the lever 119strikes the retaining plates 112- over the rack bar to swing the linkageto the position indicated by the dotted lines at 126B in Fig. 6. Thisthrows the push-off plate upwardly and forwardly to disengage thearticle from the hook 117 and deposits the article in the receivingtransfer holder 13 described previously.

The stop bar 127 depending from the left side of the hanger 110 preventsarticles from accidentally swinging past the plate; 126 as they areadvanced by the conveyor hook 10. After the article is discharged fromthe hook 10 the carriage trip mechanism causes the rack bar 113 and hook117 to retract downwardly clearing the conveyor hook and then to returnto the right with the carriage 8413.

Transfer between conveyors frhe trahsferrnechanisin 14 between theconveyors 10 and 1 6 is shown m'st clearly in Figs. 8 and 9. Itconsist's of an iipright shaft 134) rotatably supported on a lowerpedestal 131 and an upper brace or bearing plate 132. The u per end ofthe shaft carries the previously described bevel gear 31 and isconstantly rotated thereby in timed relation with the conveyors 11 and16. Intermediate of its ends the shaft 130 carries a first support arm133 pivoted about a horizontal pm 134 and a lower support arm 135pivoted about a horizontal pin 136. The arins 133 and 135 are connectedin parallel relation by the upright link 137 Fixedly secured to theouter end of the lower arm 135 as by the triangularly arranged bracebars 138 is the inclined article receiving hopper 13 having a bottomflange 139. The arms 133 and 135 and the hopper 139 are held inlaterally projecting position from the side of the shaft 130 by theroller 140 carried by the shaft 141 on the lower end of the upright 137.

The roller 140 rests upon the top of the pedestal 131 which iscircularly camr'ned as at 142. The dam 142 is raised opposite thepreviously described transfer device 12 and the carriage 8013 so thatthe ejector hook 117 and the kick-off plate 126 deposits the article 42into the hopper 13 when the hopper is in elevated position. Theconstantly rotating shaft 130 swings the hopper 13 away from theconveyor 11 and around in converging relation to the conveyor 16. In sodoing the roller 141] is swung oiT of the raised portion of the cam 142but the hopper and the article are prevented from falling immediately byengagement of the supporting pin 143 with the underside of the arm 133.The pin 143 is carried by the latch bar 144 pivoted at 145 on the shaft131) and biased to upright position by the spring 146. As

the hopper and the latch bar rotate with the shaft 131) the article 42is brought into registering relation above one of the hooks 15 on theconveyor 16. At this point the release. pawl 147 on the bottom of thelatch bar 144 engages a stop 148 to pull the pin 143 from underneath thearm 133 thus permitting the arms 133 and 135 and the hopper 13 to fall.This lowers the article onto the hook 15 preferably with the hookengaged through an opening 149 in the article and the article is carriedaway on the conveyor 16.

Ofi feed from third conveyor 7 The articles on the third conveyor 16 andits hooks 15 can be ejected or removed from the conveyor by mechanismshown most clearly in Figs. 10 to 14. The chain 150 and its hooks 15 ofthe third conveyor are translated past a fixed support block 151 whichis suspended as upon hanger rods 152 in fixed position. The block 151carries uprights 153 that support the guide rail 154 for the carriage155. A spring 156 wrapped around the guide rod 157 urges the carriage tothe right as shown in Fig. 10 or rearwardly with respect to th motion ofthe chain 150.

The support block 151 carries an upright shaft 158 about which a firstgear 159 is rotatably mounted. The gear 159 meshes with and isconstantly driven by a pinion 16@ mounted on the shaft 161. The pinion160 is connected to the previously described sprocket gear 32, drivenfrom the chain 151) so that the gear 159 rotates continuously in timedrelation with the chain 150. The gear 153 carries an upstanding pin 162.R'otatable about the shaft 158 and spaced above the gear 159 by a spacer163 is a second gear 164 having a catch 1'65 pivoted on its underside asat 166. The catch has a depending lug 167 that is biased into the pathof the previously described pin 162 by a spring 168. (See Fig. 13). Once1n each revolution of the gear 159 the pin 162 therefor picks up thecatch and rotates the gear 164. The upper end of the shaft 158 carriesthe angul'arly adjustable stop arm 169 having a depending release lug1'70 pro ecting into the path of the camrned outer edge 17-1 of thecatch 165. The 'gear 164 is thus rotated a short distance by the gear159 and then released from driving engagement therewith.

The gear 164 is constantly in driving engagement with the pinion 371 andthis pinion 371 is connected to a lower pinion or gear 172 (see Fig. 11)that meshes with a rack 173 on the bottom of the carriage 155. Rotationof the gear 164, pinions 371 and 172 therefore advance the carriage 155to the left as shown in Fig. 10. When the catch 165 is released thespring 156 returns the carriage 155 to the right. The gear 164 and itscatch 165 are likewise returned to starting position.

The carriage 155 carries the depending hanger bar 174 similar to thepreviously described hanger 110 and having a downwardly and rearwardlyinclined portion 175. The inclined portion 175 supports the shaft 176having a lower pinion 177 and an upper pinion 178 carried thereby. Theupper pinion 178 meshes with a rack bar 179 carried on the bottom of thesupport bar 151 and the pinion 177 meshes with rack teeth 180 on theinclined ejector bar 181 secured to the bottom of the inclined hanger175 by a retainer and guide 182. The ejector bar 181 is thus advancedupwardly and forwardly as the carriage 155 is advanced. The upperforward end of the ejector bar 181 carries a U-shaped hook or push offelement 183 that advances in lapped relation alongside of the conveyorhooks 15 to lift articles off of the hook as the carriage and theejector bar advance. A downwardly projecting support bar 184 connectedto the ejector bar by the cross strap 185 carries a push off lever 186on its lower end. As the upper end of the push off lever 186 advancesupwardly it engages a stop 187 to swing the push off lever about thepivot 188 and push the article otf of the hook 183. The article may bereceived or collected in any suitable receiver, (not illustrated).

By properly selecting the shapes of the article supporting hooks 8, 10,117. 15 and 183 and the supporting tray and hopper 13, the severalconveyors can be adapted to support, advance and transfer practicallyany article of a stamped sheet metal character particularly when thearticle has a hole therein or an overhanging lip with which the hookscan be engaged. Partially manufactured articles such as the automobilefender illustrated at 42 or stamped door frames are well adapted to behandled automatically by the conveyor system and the transfer mechanismsillustrated. The several conveyors can, of course, be extended over longreaches and the articles can be deposited on or removed from theconveyors at any desired position.

Modified loaders of Figs. 15 to 17 The conveyor track 190 is supportedby hanger rods 191 and provided with a chain 192 supported from thehangers 193 and rollers 194 as in the earlier forms of the invention. Atintervals the chain 192 carries article transfer blocks 195 and articlesupporting hooks 196. At the transfer station support blocks 197 carry aguide rail 198 in s aced relation to the rear of the track or rail 190.

A carriage 199 is slidably supported on the guide rail and provided witha latched drive pawl 200 projecting into the path of the block 195 sothat the advancing block on the carriage chain picks up and advances thecarriage 199 along the guide rail. The latch of the drive pawl isreleased at the end of the advancing motion of the carriage in the samemanner as illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5 and the carriage is returned by asuitably biased chain 201.

Positioned in front of the conveyor and the carriage 199 is a deliverychute 202 mounted on a suitable support 203 designed to deliver articlesto a stop plate 204 positioned closely alongside the path of motion ofthe conveyor hooks 196. The side of the delivery chute 202 is openimmediately above the stop plate 204 and a pushoif block 205 is slidtransversely of the delivery chute along the stop plate 204. Desirablythe pushoff block carries a retaining plate 206 that overlies the end ofthe chute in the retracted position of the pushoff block. The pushotfblock 205 is reciprocated by a push rod 207 8 journaled in a suitablesupport 208 carried by the support 203 for the delivery chute.

The push rod 207 carries a pair of collars or stops 209 between which isengaged the drive arm 210. The drive arm 210 extends upwardly andrearwardly across the conveyor rail and downwardly to the carriage 199to which it is secured as at 211. It will thus be seen that when thecarriage 199 is picked up and advanced in timed relation to theadvancing motion of the hook 196, the pusholf block 205 will be advancedto push articles off of the stop plate 204 so that they may fall bygravity onto the conveyor hooks 196. After the transfer of the articlesis completed, the latch of the pawl 200 is tripped and the carriage andthe pushoif block returned to their retracted position to permit theentry of a second article to the stop plate 204 and condition thecarriage for a succeeding operation.

Modified of} loader illustrated in Figs. 18 and 19 The oil loadingmechanism shown in these figures utilizes many of the elements of thepreviously described transfer mechanisms. The conveyor rail isillustrated at 212 and supports the same rollers 213, chain 214 andactuating block 215 and article hook 216. Essentially the same guiderail 217 is carried by support blocks 218 to the rear of the conveyorrail and a carriage 219 is slidably supported on the guide rail. Thecarriage is provided with a releasable drive pawl 220 projecting intothe path of the actuating block 215. The carriage is biased rearwardlyby the spring tensioned chain 221.

Hangers 222 projecting forwardly across the conveyor rail from thesupport blocks 218 support a rail 223 in front of the path of motion ofthe article hooks 216. The rail 223 carries a stationary rack bar 224.

The carriage 219 has a cross arm 225 secured to its upper side whichprojects forwardly across the conveyor rail 212 to a downwardly andrearwardly inclined slide plate 226. The slide plate 226 supports areciprocable unloading bar 227 that is held in place by guide blocks228. The unloading bar 227 has rack teeth 229 formed along one sidethereof, and these teeth mesh with the teeth of a pinion 230. The pinion230 is supported on a stub shaft 231 engaged with the top of theinclined slide plate and the top of the stub shaft carries a pinion 232that is meshed with the rack bar 224. It will thus be seen thatadvancing motion of the hook 216 and actuator block 215 picks up thepawl 220 and advances the car riage 219. The pinion 232 is advanced withthe carriage and rotated by engagement with the rack bar 224 and this inturn rotates the beveled tooth pinion 230 to raise the unloading bar227. The lower end of the unloading bar carries a pushoff plate 233which in the retracted position of the carriage and the lowered positionof the bar 227 is located below the hook 216 on the conveyor. Thus asthe unloading bar 227 and plate 233 are advanced laterally with thecarriage and the conveyor, they rise to lift an article suspended on thehook 216 off of the conveyor. The articles may be disposed by gravityinto a receiving chute 234 or otherwise removed from the pushotf plate233 and the unloading bar.

What is claimed as new is:

1. A conveyor system for stamped sheet metal articles comprising a firstflat bed conveyor for advancing the articles, a swingably mountedtransfer tray positioned to swing from a receiving position at the endof said first conveyor to an elevated position, a catch on said traysupporting the article in elevated position, drive means connected toraise said tray, means biasing said tray to receiving position, a latchreleasably engageable with said catch, a striker positioned to releasesaid latch in the elevated position of said tray, a second conveyordriven in timed relation to said drive means, a transfer carriagesupported alongside said second conveyor and opposite said tray, a catchon said carriage engageable by a projection on said second conveyor, alatch on said carriage garages engageable with a fixed stop'in theadvanced position of the carriage to release said ciitch nemesisprojection, means connected tdsaid carriage to retraet the sameia bartransversely slidabl y siipp rtedin inclined position on said carriageand h'avingla hook on its upper end positioned opposite said tray in theretracted position of said carriage to receivean article from said tray,means including first rack teeth fixed alongside the path of movement ofsaid carriage and secpndraek teeth on said transfer bar and drivinglyconnected pinions on said carriage coacting said rack teeth to retractsaid transfer bar downwardly upon advancing motion of said carriage, anda k 0. sa econd conveyo Po ition to be alongside said bar and below andbehind said hook when said projection on said second conveyor engagessaid catch on said carriage.

2. A conveyor system for stamped sheet metal articles comprising a firstconveyor for the articles, a swingably mounted transfer tray positionedto swing from a receiving position at the end of said first conveyor toa delivery position, a catch on said tray supporting the article insalddelivery position, drive mfians connected to swing said tray, meansbiasing said tray to receiving position, a latch releasably engageablewith said catch, a striker positioned to release' 'said latch in thedelivery position of said tray, a second conveyor driven in timedrelation to said drive means, a tr nsr'er carriage supported alongsidesaid second conveyor" and opposite sa d tray, a catch on said carriageengageable by a projection on said second conveyor, a latch on saidcarriage engageable with a fixed stopin theadvance'd position of thecarriage to release said carriage catch from said projection, meansconnected to said carriage to retract the same, a bar transversely'slidably supported in an inclined position on said carriage and havinga hook on its upper end positioned opposite s "d tray in the re tractedposition of 'saidcar'riage to receive an article from said tray,means'inclnding fifitdfaCk teeth fixed alongside the path of movement ofsaid carriage and second rack teeth on said "transfer bar and drivinglyconnected pinions on said carriage coacting with said rack teeth toretract'said trans'fe'r'b'ar diiwnwardly upon advancing motion'of saidcarriage, and a hook onsaid second conveyor positioned lobe a ongsidesaid bar and below and behind said hook said carriage en said projectionon said se'c'oadeoiive af engages saidcateh on said carriage.

3. In combination with a conveyor having an article supporting hook, acarriage mounted for reciprocating motion alongside of said conveyor,means biasing said carriage oppositely to the direction of motion ofsaid conveyor, coacting lugs on said conveyor and said carriage arrangedto advance said carriage with said conveyor, releasable latch meansengageable with the lug on said carriage, a fixed stop in the path ofsaid latch means and engageable therewith to release said lugs fromdriving engagement at the end of the advance travel of said carriage, atransfer bar reciprocable on said carriage transversely with respect tosaid conveyor, a second article supporting hook on said bar positionedin transverse registering relation with said first supporting hook whensaid lugs are in driving engagement, and means including a first rackfixed alongside said carriage and a second rack on said bar and piniondrive means therebetween arranged to reciprocate said bar in timedrelation to the reciprocating motion of said carriage, said bar movingsaid second supporting hook away from said first supporting hook uponretracting motion of said carriage.

4. In combination with a conveyor having an article supporting hook, acarriage mounted for reciprocating motion alongside of said conveyor,means biasing said carriage oppositely to the direction of motion ofsaid conveyor, coacting lugs on said conveyor and said carriage arrangedto advance said carriage with said conveyor, releasable latch meansengageable with the lug on said carriage, a fixed stop in the means andengageable therewith to'release said lugs from driving engagement at theend of the advanee travel of said carriage, a transfer bar reciprocableon said carriage transversely with respect to said conveyor, a secondarticle supporting hook on said bar positioned in transverse registeringrelation with said first supporting hook when said lugs are in drivingengagement, and means including a first rack fixed alongside saidcarriage and a second rack on said bar and pinion drive meanstherebetween arranged to reciprocate said bar in timed relation to thereciprocating motion of said carriage, said bar moving said secondsupporting hook away from said first supporting hook upon advancingmotion of said carriage.

5. in combination with a conveyor having an article supporting hook, acarriage mounted for reciprocating motion alongside of said conveyor,means biasing said carriage oppositely to the direction of motion ofsaid path of said latch conveyor, coacting lugs on said conveyor andsaid carriage arranged to advance said carriage with said conveyor,releasable latch means engageable with one of said =lugs, a fixed stopin the path of said latch means and engageable therewith to release saidlugs from driving engagement at the end of the advance travel of saidcarriage, a transfer bar reciprocable on said carriage transversely withrespect to said conveyor, a second article supporting hook on said barpositioned in transverse registering relation with said first supportinghook when said lugs are in driving engagement, and means including afirst rack fixed alongside said carriage and a second rack on said barand pinion drive means therebetween arranged to reciprocate said bar intimed relation to the reciprocating motion of said carriage, said barmoving said second supporting hook away from said first supporting hookupon advancing motion of said carriage.

6. In combination with a conveyor having an article support, a carriagemounted for reciprocating motion alongside of said conveyor, meansbiasing said carriage oppositely to the direction of motion of saidconveyor, coacting lugs on said conveyor and said carriage arranged toadvance said carriage with said conveyor, releasable latch meansengageable with one of said lugs, a fixed stop in the path of said latchmeans and engageable therewith to release said lugs from drivingengagement at the end of the advance travel of said carriage, a transferbar reciprocable on said carriage transversely with respect to saidconveyor, 21 second article support on said bar positioned in transverseregistering relation with said first support when said lugs are indriving engagement, and means arranged to reciprocate said bar in timedrelation to the reciprocating motion of said carriage.

7. In combination with a conveyor having an article support, a carriagemounted for reciprocating motion alongside of said conveyor, a rack onsaid carriage, a first gear connected to be driven in timed relation tosaid conveyor, a drive pin on said first gear, a second gear mountedcoaxially with said first gear and having a pawl spring biased into thepath of said drive pin, said pawl having a portion projecting beyond theperiphery of said gears, a release member angularly adjustably mountedin the path of the projecting portion of said pawl to release said pawlfrom driven engagement with said pin, connected pinions drivinglyengaged between said second gear and said rack to advance said carriage,means connected to said carriage to retract the same when said pin andpawl are disengaged, an article transfer bar movably mounted on saidcarriage for movement transverse to said conveyor and having an articleengaging end registering transversely with said article support whensaid pin and lug are engaged, and means including racks fixed along thepath of movement of said carriage and on said bar and connected 11 drivepinions therebetween arranged to reciprocate said bar upon reciprocationof said carriage.

8. In combination with a conveyor having an article support, a carriagemounted for reciprocating motion alongside of said conveyor, a rack onsaid carriage, a first gear connected to be driven in timed relation tosaid conveyor, a second gear having a releasable clutch engagement withsaid first gear, a release member angularly adjustably mounted torelease said clutch engagement, connected pinions drivingly engagedbetween said second gear and said rack to advance said carriage, meansconnected to said carriage to retract the same when said clutch isdisengaged, an article transfer bar movably mounted on said carriage formovement transverse to said conveyor and having an article engaging endregistering transversely with said article support when said clutch isengaged, and means including racks fixed along the path of movement ofsaid carriage and on said bar and connected drive pinions therebetweenarranged to reciprocate said bar upon reciprocation of said carriage.

9. In combination with a conveyor having an article support, a carriagemounted for reciprocating motion alongside of said conveyor, a rack onsaid carriage, a first gear connected to be driven in timed relation tosaid conveyor, a drive pin on said first gear, a second gear mountedcoaxially with said first gear and having a pawl spring biased into thepath of said drive pin, a release member angularly adjustably mounted inthe path of said pawl to release said pawl from driven engagement withsaid pin, connected pinions drivingly engaged between said second gearand said rack to ad vance said carriage, means connected to saidcarriage to retract the same when said pin and pawl are disengaged, anarticle transfer bar movably mounted on said carriage for movementtransverse to said conveyor and having an article engaging endregistering transversely with said article support when said pin and lugare engaged, and means arranged to reciprocate said bar uponreciprocation of said carriage.

10. In combination with a conveyor having an article support, a carriagemounted for reciprocating motion alongside of said conveyor, a rack onsaid carriage, a sprocket positioned adjacent said carriage and engagedwith said conveyor to be driven in timed relation to said conveyor, afirst gear driven by said sprocket, a second gear, means including apawl forming a releasable clutch drivingly connecting said gears, arelease member angularly adjustably mounted in the path of said pawl torelease said clutch, connected pinions drivingly engaged between saidgear and said rack to advance said carriage, means connected to saidcarriage to retract the same when said clutch is disengaged, an articletransfer bar movably mounted on said carriage for movement transverse tosaid conveyor and having an article engaging end registeringtransversely with said article support when said clutch is engaged, andmeans connected to reciprocate said bar upon reciprocation of saidcarriage.

11. In combination with a conveyor having an article support, a carriagemounted for reciprocating motion alongside of said conveyor, a rack onsaid carriage, a sprocket connected to be driven by engagement with saidconveyor, a gear engaged with said rack to advance said carriage, meansforming a releasable clutch and driving connection between said sprocketand said gear and having a release pawl, a release member angularlyadjustably mounted in the path of said pawl to release said clutch,means connected to said carriage to retract the same when said clutch isdisengaged, an article transfer bar movably mounted on said carriage formovement transverse to said conveyor and having an article engaging endregistering transversely with said article support when said clutch isengaged, and means arranged to reciprocate said bar upon reciprocationof said carriage.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS804,145 Lissak Nov. 7, 1905 1,650,971 Young Nov. 29, 1927 1,907,894Stevens et al May 9, 1933 1,951,400 Dvorak Mar. 20, 1934 2,207,648 WickJuly 9, 1940 2,558,633 Tuttle June 26, 1951 2,571,977 Warren Oct. 16,1951 2,826,292 Arnold Mar. 11, 1958 2,885,059 Hasselman et al. May 5,1959 2,885,063 Austin et a1. May 5, 1959

